Communities surrender looted firearms in Manipur, after Governors appeal

Imphal, Feb 22: Responding to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s appeal to surrender looted arms, people from various communities began turning in weapons to the police on Saturday.

Bhalla has set a seven-day deadline for the surrender of arms and ammunition seized during last year’s ethnic clashes.

On Saturday, members of the Kuki-Zo tribes handed over firearms to the Assam Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Churachandpur district. The surrendered weapons included M16 rifles, AK-series rifles, INSAS rifles, self-loading rifles, and mortar rounds.

Similarly, members of the Meitei community in the Imphal valley also surrendered firearms to the police.

In Kakching district, authorities received a cache that included .303 rifles, bulletproof vests, and ammunition. Meanwhile, in Kangpokpi district’s Saparmeina, residents turned in AK-series and INSAS assault rifles at the local police station.

An estimated 6,000 firearms were looted from police stations and armories across Manipur following the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo tribes, who primarily reside in the hill regions of the state.

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